NZ: Act promotes Family Court bill 

NZ: Act promotes Family Court bill

From http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/default.asp?id=38041

Act promotes Family Court bill


Act MP Dr Muriel Newman urges Govt to move on private member's bill to open up Family Court proceedings

27 March 2004

The Act party says any changes to the Family Court are up to Labour.

The statement comes in reaction to Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier's comments that the time has come to remove the secrecy surrounding the Family Court.

Act's Social Welfare spokeswoman Dr Muriel Newman says a Labour government voted down her last attempt to change the legislation in 2001.

She says changes to the secret society of the Family Court will again fall to Labour to implement.

Dr Newman hopes the Government is listening to public feeling and sees the bill as the right vehicle to push forward change.

She says it is an unwise government that fails to go along with the mood of the public.

Dr Muriel Newman says the bill should be before parliament by the middle of the year.

National MP Nick Smith was found guilty of contempt of court earlier this week for speaking publicly on a Family Court case.


?? 2004 NZCity, IRN

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